Posts from Cooktops

Q: I only use one of my stove's burners because whenever I turn on any of the others, they start to smoke or smell like they're burning, which in turn sets off my smoke alarms. I've tried cleaning them, but it doesn't seem to help. Does anyone have a good cleaning method?

Q: I just moved into a rental apartment. When cooking on the stovetop the heat radiates up onto the refrigerator which sits adjacent to the stove. Is there is a magnetic panel product that I can stick on the side of the 'frig to protect it from heat and save on the inconvenience of a fire.

Who:MK, Italian kitchen designWhat We Noticed: I don't think of myself as a minimalist, but this hood and sleek wood island with integrated cooktop literally stopped me in my tracks at EuroCucina. In context it felt serene and quiet, unfussy and very functional. The white almost blends in to the ceiling, and the woods keeps it feeling warm. Nothing here is trying too hard.

Trend: Gas on glass stovetopsWhere We Saw It Electrolux, KitchenAid/Whirlpool, Franke, SmegThese stovetops were front and center all week at EuroCucina: All the easy cleanup of a glass surface, but the power of a gas stove. These sleek, beautiful, gas on glass cooktops we saw this week combine beauty and functionality in a serious way. I'm curious to know how the glass holds up to dropped pans and knives; does it chip or scratch over time?

Who:Hacker and AzuleWhat We Noticed: This red kitchen was one of the last things I saw at EuroCucina, and it stopped me in my tracks. It had modern lines, but was softened by the raised relief pattern on the drawers. And those tiles on the back wall — wow! I discovered they are from a cement (encaustic) tile company in the Netherlands. The kitchen is part of a new line from Hacker called 'Identity,' designed by Claudia Klein Zeggelink. Hard to express how beautiful this whole scene was in person. More photos below...

Who:MieleWhat We Noticed: We've been saying it; here's more proof: Glossy white appliances are the new stainless steel. German appliance-maker Miele put some gorgeous glossy white pieces front and center at EuroCucina. Click through for more photos — including one of the prettiest fridges we've seen in a long time.

Who:ElectroluxWhat We Noticed: Electrolux is showing some sweet cooktops, and we'll look at them again soon (hello, gas-on-glass!). Here, a first peek at something more unusual: Modular hobs. The option of installing one (or more) single sleek gas burners, anywhere, opens up some interesting ideas for small or inconveniently-shaped spaces, don't you think? Click through for more photos!

Q: I just read the recent post about using cast iron on a glass cooktop and all the comments from people who own one and hate it! I'm stuck with electric - no gas in our whole building - and wondering about your top recommendations for electric stoves. Thanks!